The Importance Of Life In Isaac Babel's Awakening

Obstacles and difficulties in life trigger one’s growth and make them a better person. In “Awakening” by Isaac Babel, Isaac achieves his awakening as he realizes his dream, takes control of his life, and improves his writing skills. Isaac realizes his interest after he skips the fiddle lesson. In the beginning, Isaac lives under his authoritarian father’s expectations and learns the fiddle. Although he is not attracted to music and “[perceives] inspiration of another sort” (5), he does not know what he likes until he meets the proofreader of a newspaper. By chance, he receives the opportunity to “[show] [the proofreader] a tragedy” (11) which is not written under the pressure of his family. Isaac’s self-motivation implies that he enjoys